ASNT Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Practice Test

Applying more amperage across the filament in an X-ray tube will result in?

1. Higher Target Temperature

2. More X-ray Production

3. Less Radiation

4. Lower Voltage Requirement

The correct answer is: More X-ray Production

Increasing the amperage across the filament in an X-ray tube leads to a greater number of electrons being emitted from the cathode. This phenomenon is crucial because the amount of X-rays produced is directly dependent on the quantity of electrons striking the anode. When these electrons collide with the anode material, they release energy in the form of X-rays. Therefore, higher amperage translates to a larger flow of electrons, which in turn results in more X-ray production. This relationship is fundamental in the operation of X-ray tubes, as it allows for greater intensity and potentially better quality images due to the increased quantity of X-rays available for imaging. The other choices do not reflect the effects of increasing the amperage. While higher target temperature and lower voltage requirement may relate to other operational parameters of the X-ray tube, they do not accurately describe the immediate outcome of increasing filament amperage.